CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell recorded an impressive 33 points, while his fellow All-Star, Evan Mobley, showcased his skills with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers, currently leading the NBA, triumphed over the Memphis Grizzlies 129-123 on Sunday night. Ty Jerome shone in the final quarter, contributing 15 of his 26 points to secure the victory for Cleveland, which now boasts the longest active winning streak in the league at seven games and maintains an outstanding home record of 27-4 at Rocket Arena. Unfortunately, All-Star guard Darius Garland was sidelined due to a hip injury sustained in the previous game against New York.
Memphis, positioned second in the Western Conference, faced their third loss in four games. Jaren Jackson Jr. stood out with 22 points, while Ja Morant displayed his brilliance with 21 points and 10 assists, and Luke Kennard added 19 points coming off the bench.
The highly-anticipated matchup featured the league’s top two scoring teams, with Cleveland averaging 122.9 points and Memphis closely behind at 122.8. Notably, the Cavaliers have outscored the Grizzlies by eight points despite playing the same number of games.
Takeaways
Grizzlies: Jackson’s three-point play with 42 seconds remaining narrowed Memphis’s deficit to 124-121, but missed free throws on the subsequent possession proved costly. The All-Star forward’s 12 points in the fourth quarter were commendable.
Cavaliers: Mobley equaled his career-high in assists, coming within two of achieving his first NBA triple-double, and also showcased his defensive prowess with three blocks. However, his 3-point shooting was subpar, going 1 of 8 from beyond the arc.
Key moment
A heated scuffle between Mitchell and Desmond Bane erupted while battling for a loose ball on the floor, resulting in both players receiving technical fouls. Morant and Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson were also penalized for intervening in the altercation.
Key stat
Despite leading the NBA with a 39.3 3-point shooting percentage, the Cavaliers struggled from long range, missing 22 of their first 25 attempts. Mitchell accounted for all of their makes, finishing 13 of 47 from beyond the arc.
Up next
The Grizzlies kick off a five-game homestand on Tuesday against Phoenix. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are set to face Orlando on the same night.
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